John Cena talks smack to Triple H at WrestleMania XXIV at the Citrus Bowl on Sunday, March 30, 2008 in Orlando, FL. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel)

The WWE issued an apology to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation after a WWE superstar John Cena dissed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a rap containing homophobic lyrics making fun of his movie career. The rant aired on WWE Raw carried on USA Network in late February.

GLAAD particularly took issue with one of the lines in John Cena’s rap which said, “Just don’t go racing to Witch Mountain, Rock, cause your mountain is Brokeback.”

The WWE issued an apology and announced yesterday that the two organizations will work together to create and promote an anti-bullying initiative aimed at their core audience and has invited GLAAD to conduct trainings for their staff of writers and editors.

Snooki isn’t the first Jersey Shore cast member to crawl into the wrestling ring. Her cast mates JWoww made an appearance for Impact wrestling and Angelina previously appeared in a guest bout for TNA wrestling.

But Angelina believes she owns the trademark on Jersey Shore kids and wrestling. When asked about Snooki’s performance on WWE, she said her castmate was “a fat troll who should never wear those shorts…or being in a wrestling ring.”

It is the first pay-per-view to hit the St. Pete Times Forum since the 2000 WWE Survivor Series. Tickets range from $20 to $275.

To some sports fans, WWE is a man soap opera, not a legitimate sport. But what is legitimate is the WWE’s huge audience.

WWE WrestleMania 2008 in Orlando is one of the largest grossing and most highly attended event in the history of the Florida Citrus Bowl along with the 1994 World Cup. Millions get funneled into the local economy from this event.

Granted, Extreme Rules isn’t WrestleMania. But if even just half the WrestleMania audience attends that’s good business.

With the Amway Center up and running, it would make an excellent choice for WWE events. Do you want to see “The Miz” back in Orlando sports fans?

Republican candidate in the 2010 race for U.S. Senator from Connecticut Linda McMahon, former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO, makes a campaign stop outside a polling location in Norwalk, Connecticut August 10, 2010. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A WWE spokesperson contacted the Orlando Sentinel Tuesday to dispute elements of the ABC News Nightline story and our blog, which referred to the ABC story, about former WWE CEO Linda McMahon.

We referred to lack of adequate steroid testing and the ABC story referred to the lack of health care and penchants for former wrestlers, both of which the WWE spokesperson disputes.

Robert Zimmerman, Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, said the WWE does have an abuse and drug testing policy. After a 10-year absence, the WWE reinstated drug testing in 2006 under the umbrella of the Talent Wellness Program.

The Talent Wellness Program provides some medical services for current wrestlers under contract, but they are expected to pay for any non wrestling related health care services. Retired wrestlers are not covered.

Wrestlers are considered independent contractors and are paid an average of $550,000.

Keep in mind pro wrestlers also pay for almost all of their travel expenses, food and accommodations and the WWE season is 365 days a year.

ABC News recently interviewed and profiled retired WWE CEO Linda McMahon, who is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate for the state of Connecticut. Should she win, McMahon would become the first female senator in the state’s history.

Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon would not be the first person with sports ties to make the leap into politics.

Actor and former professional body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of California. Retired professional wrestler Jesse “the Body” Ventura was the governor of Minnesota. NBA Hall of Fame Bill Bradley was a New Jersey senator for 18 years. And who can forget former NBA guard Kevin Johnson was elected as the first African American mayor of Sacramento?

But Linda McMahon certainly has the most interesting story.

ABC News produced a very good piece highlighting the complexities of McMahon’s run for U.S. Senate in Connecticut. Forget about the beer-chugging, ball busting kicks she has delivered in the ring for a moment. There are far bigger questions than ringside manners.

As the story pointed out, the WWE does not have a penchant or medical care for former professional wrestlers and the overall image of the WWE is anything but conservative, which is important to point out because McMahon is a Republican.

On the other hand, McMahon and her husband are business geniuses turning the WWE into a billion dollar industry.

McMahon’s successful track record as a business woman may be enough to overcome her critics considering boosting economic stimulation is the No. 1 issue facing most Americans.

An interesting side note: Should Linda McMahon win the U.S. Senate race, she would become Connecticut’s first female senator and the 39th woman in history to serve the U.S. Senate.

Based on your knowledge of the WWE, would you want to see Linda McMahon in the U.S. Senate?

For your daily dosage of interesting local and national sports news, log onto Shannon J. Owens’ blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/sentinelsportsnow. If you have a newstip, e-mail Shannon at sjowens@orlandosentinel.com. Follow her on twitter @shannonowens and friend Sentinel Sports Now on facebook at www.facebook.com/sentinelsportsnow.

WWE fans looking for last minute tickets to the St. Pete Time Forum tonight in Tampa, you are in luck.

After Brickwall Productions Club backed out, that created 70 available club tickets. The cost of the tickets are $50 which includes gourmet buffett and all you can drink beer, wine and soda. The show begins at 6:45 p.m. For more information contact Lindsey Bell at 813.301.6807 or lbell@sptimesforum.com to purchase tickets.

San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman (56) reacts near the end of the Chargers' 27-24 loss in an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

“I’m a huge, huge wrestling fan. I’ve had talks with Mr. (Vince) McMahon not only recently but in the past about the possibility. Now I’m not saying it is a possibility, I’m only saying it’s been talked about as a possibility.”